Pressure or float operated circuit-controller.



A. R. MEAD.l

PRESSURE 0R FLOAT OPERATED CIRCUIT CONTROLLER APPLICATION `HLED 1M. e, 1911.

1,277,625. i Patented sept. 3,1915.

i it iiiiiioi'sooii "imi i Application i'iief, izziiuury H217.

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mii ii in izi'mfiiii-i- .which Fi l', both Figs. l :ind l Showing the @1c-5o mimi circuits ciiagrammaiicalim Fig. 3:3 is :i ii zigmentai'y detail View showing i latch mechanism for Cho thermosat of Figs. l and. 2;

Fig. i is on enlarged elemtionyo i111@ ieeiiiiostiit iihisiraed in l and .in Fig. l L innig adapted to iubi'icziiiug' systems whoreixi iii@ iiiiiiicziloing.; oi! ciiuuiimd oi ope?- zei-i iunior press-uro In this iipiii'o, desigfuiitcs am oil-iight; contain which. is; iii- .'snilod o `f inse/riad in the suppiif line of this systoiii. have iiiilstrziiimi iiiiil. oii'ziinei' 21S being Comme-tod :it one, ein-i to 'u pump (noi shown) by the *pipa il :imi as having :i iruiii'ii pip@ i2 and :i pipo 2J leading' from tho oppor @mi oif'ihe Conuiiioi io u si@ t. food oi.' pressure inge und' 'iieiii-e fio tho ifi-nui; coso by :i 'pipe i3 io vi'iiioh is; @ouiiooteii. I' mint it undoi'siooih howvvei'. uit

this iiiiziiigoiuant piiyeiy iilusiiwitii'e. Disiioem within the. coiiiiiiiiiei is :i ii

This' 'oiit I have iiius lied :i5 boing ioiiiiod wiii n. @mirad gf 5 formed in. .i mim o1# @unis upward above the it. ifi. guido is arranged in the huil; mail e2:-

is ntiiwhml at its uppm :md iowci' ends to iii@ upper' :1nd oivvr ends of the Container ami this guido posses thi' ugh tho tubular iiwiiiiwi if. 'The i'iibuiai: niemoes 4.3 cali'- riw; :it its upper and tho globular Contact i9 which is niaiiie of Conductive iiizimiaii, his ioiiiiut being iiisiiiaiied from die inimizii iiieiiiboi' 45 ainsi, from tho guide my :in insulating sleeve 1T `oii the niviiibei Dit por-imi on opposiie Sides of the path of movement' of tho coiidiiciing: iucmiwi' Si :i1-o iii@ iefsiielitY Coiiacts 5U. Both of di so mout-acts ziio eiiik- :uid @zich Coiiiiict ai iis iiiiic-i @mi is-i beni upwzu'ii :is at'l and coiuieci'oii io ii, liiimiiig Sciov which pfisses iiii'oiigzii iiiio ii'fiii of the, container and iiisuiiii {Eiereifiom as by :i fiber bushing 53. ,Each biliding screw ciu-rios upon it the binding iuii-i.

i'ie contacts 50 :uid iii eieciiicii eugzifi'omeiit Show :i moohziuisiii pziitioulo G will be Witiiduii'ii from"deem-ical omging-3' mmm, with the Coniacts 50.

Disposed iii Connection wii'ii iii@ con'tziiiwi i0 zuid iiiiifiti'aifi :irs` mouiited iiiion ifo@ Side of iiiir; container is i C2i 1g iimosiiiig a tiei'mosiiic circui' hmmm, '.ifiii is ilii.;s

trated as formed by a resistance coil 56 Whose lower end is mounted upon a bracket 57. The resistance coil surrounds and is electrically connected to a metallic strip 58, whose in dei: of expansion under heat is relatively high. The bracket 57 is metallic and is in electrical engagementl with the binding screw 59. This bracket 57 andthe binding screw is insulated from the Wall of the container by liber bushings and the binding screw carries the binding nut 59, The upper end ot' the strip 58 carries upon it a contact (i and operating in conjunction with this contact is a contact 61 which is' mounted in any suitable manner Within the casing but insulated therefrom and is in 'eh-ictrical engagement With a binding screw4 62 passing through the Wall of the casing but insulated there-'trom and on this binding screw is the binding nut lirom the battery G4 leads a conductor 65 which is electrically engaged with the binding screws 5S bymeans of the binding nut 592* and l have illustrated this conductor as being continued on beyond the binding screw and connected with the binding screw 52 of onty oi the contacts 50. The binding screw B2 of the opposite contact 50 is.

electrically connected by a conductor G6 with the bindingscrew G3 and thus with the Contact (il. This conductor 66 is continued on beyond the binding-screw 52 and passes into the coil box 67 ot the usual rEhe construction oil this spark coil is `not illustrated as it is well understood. From the other 'ternlinal ot the spark coil a conductor (S8 extends to the circuit breaker arm 99 ot the usual connnutator or breaker, whose cam is designated 70. rlhis arm 69 makes 'and breaks Contact with the Contact 7l which is connected by a hinding screw to a conductor 72 in turn connected to the negative pole of the battery.

The operation ot' this t'orm of my invention r. .l be obvious. pa trom the battery to the binding screw andl from thence to the binding screw 5:2, trom thence across the contacts 5() and 49 and the other binding' screw .i2 to the conductor 6b and thence to the coil box, through the coil, through the commutator and back to the battery again. lVhen both circuits are closed, current will pass through the resistancc coil 58 and through the contacts 50, thc relative values of the two currents, hoivspark coil.

ever. being inversely, proportionately to the resist-ance ot the two circuits and a relatively. slight amount oi currentwill, therefore. pass through the resistance coil. Now, if the iressure within the container 4() be reduced or the iloat 44 'falls toi' any reason due to a decrease in pressure or amount ot' oil in the container. the contact. if) will be withdrawn from between the contacts 59. Under these circumstances the circuit through the Spark Normally the current narines vcoil would be broken but it is desirable to 49, which constitutes a vswitch or circuit.-

breaker,- all of the 'current will then pass from the battery through the wire to and through the binding screw 59 to the coil 56, the contacts 60 and 61, the binding screw` .52 the conductor 66 to the spark coil,

the4 commutator and so back to thebattery.

As the current passes through this resistance coil A56 'it will gradually heat the coil and the strip 58 will expand and this eX- pension of the strip will carry the contact' (50 upward out of contact with the contact Y.

(il and the circuit will be automatically broken for a predetermined ime. When thecircuit is broken, the circuit through the spark coil is broken and the engine will of course stop.

1 wish a ndern-,60d um whil I haveI illustrated the switch or' circuit breaking member 49 as being .vertically movable by the float 44 and as bein disposed Within the container 40, 'yet it 1s obvious that it may be disposed in other situations and operatively connected to the float. I do not Wish to limit myself to a vertically movable member 49. Furthermore any type of con tact maybe used or made by the member 49 such asa make an'd'brcak, wiping contact, sliding or magnetic contact. It is also possible to leave ofi the thermostat but this .is preferable as it gives the lubricant pump time to get into action if there is any detect in thepump which would cause a delayed action of it. It will be also obvious that a Warning light may be inserted in the circuit if desired. Here again I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction 'shownas it is obvious that these may be changed in many Ways Without affecting the principle lor the invention. Thus for instance in place of the float, as used in Fig. 1 I can use a plunger, as shown in 2, this plunger being designated 73. The tanky in this figure is designated 40 as itis thc same tank as that illustratedin Fig. l?" hc electrical connections are the same andlllnce the same numerals are used to designate these electrical connections. The fioat 73, as illustratech is provided with guides 74.- ',l`hesc guides may be left off, however, provided -the plungeris of suiiicicnt thickness to be `guided by the wall of the container. The plunger is provided Wit-h the upwardly extending stem '7 5 carrying the contact 49?l which is the same as the contact 49 previously described. An air outlet 76 is 'formed in the top ot' the container so as to permit a proper n'iovernent of the plunger and theA plunger 1s shown as being urged Cri ' raifiell :nul

provided witli faire lll Wliif 1 release any that me fi mij.' ini' the spare abete 'mlm new pluuer the (nl en The tien oli the tlurinofsl'nt wherein :L latch is usetl t0 nel@ ilie tlierinustnt`eirrui Open after it eut outltlie ignil'iun rirenit. ln ligure tile asume reference runner-ills nre used in Fig. l. The lute i, lume-ver. is designetefl 78. e :ill electrical renturts may be placed niplisli the seine enti which is @ourse lui lu 'necessary' ere me device is usefl tu intlieiite tlie level of gefiel-ane in container, or tlie engine when the gaeolene if.; rnnning ein'. n et Where there ne @enger it ie pr einlile te piece :le tiiis te the @il eating :is an extinguisher er lr iii-rester.

The construction eliown in Fig. 2 is intended t0 be use en meters er in etliei. situatiens wliere there ie zi combina-tien lierre feewfl intl Splash System, tlie erzinl: euse :it liettein forming; n rfyorveir tu contain meter oil. A pump pumps the imiter eil ifrom 'illecuse to 'the lieiirings luy header mul the Oil eifei'ituiilly te fairy beek into the crank ci ilse eil lijl' means et :i luy-puse; @il ln litigi?. 2 designates the i Quinn il. pipe 71 erinili eene :intl .i .i lentils -flou'nwurri nto ,lie leiter enll el the inni, eurls the (nl up erenlt @eee and. the Y tlireugli tnie pipe :unl (liselnugres it into e pipe b1 from which the eil lews tu the lter C. frenrtlie filter extends u, pine /lfl which ordinarily leeds clii'eetli`- tu tlie Gil pressure lege lult which l lime illuseis lending in'm` tlie lower mul inf the runt* ,ner fr0 in Fig. fi. nip@ f) lrzuls lie pipe ll tu tlw 'lnuler which in l r :1ftu Elie several hearings. My inipru'ffel ee'sitrellingr levier it will be seen is inserted l'ietu'een lie preneur@ Inge D and the iilter ill. flu long: as the p reesure in the pipe @lla is emintunt :unl Ulf :i prwleterininfill (lemme. the limit er nimmer lll will lie rept wlmi tln meure if; rmlneefl. aus by tlie 'failure all tin, lwwiuso tlie nil lnv iweu ne; l up. t. s plunger 7?, will lower' (lue tu ilu-f lowering; of 'tlie level et the liquid zuitemuticzillf; breaking i rile eentzimer l0 lie eireuit to tile commet-atm* :incl the igni tien syetein :is previously Lleecribecl. New iii- Order to provide means for draining the eliainlier lill, l ferm below the clnunlwr u. elizunber 88. vThe bottoni 0i' the con miner l0 has a valve Seat S9 controlled by n llowi'xvmrdly opening valve 90 carried upon u stem 91 attached to :mil cniriezl by the plunger 73, `this, stem, :is illustrated. extending through the plunger :mal inte the stein 75A but I (l0 net wish to be limited to this exactY cnstruetion. Y Y

At the limer end of the Chamber 88 ,there is :in opening with a vulve Seat 92 mtl e0- aeting with this vulve seat is :i bail valve 93 which is lielclup olif ef the by Ineens of :i spring 94. The chamber 8H emninuni- Cates with the crunk eue through the valve seat 92 by means of :i drain pipe 95 which extends int() the emular/aise. Nernnilly and when the parte are working properly tlie valve 93 will 'be raised from its sent 'anti the chamber 88 will be emptied inni illeV if'alve 9U will be elosed but if the pressure within the container l0al decreases below time predetermined iunount. tlien the plunger will fleeeend, opening the vulve 90, uml the ci .tents of the container $0 will pass downward into the chamber S8 :nul so back by way of the drain pipe 95 to tlie crank elise. New when the pump starts up again it will pump ille oil up into the lower pertinn of the container 40 and inasmuch :is tlle vulve 90 is open, the eil will pase clown into the chamber 8S but tlie 'pressure on tlie oil will cause the vulve 93 to close so that the chamber 8S will till up und then l'lie chamber 91 will lill up until the pluue'eii 73 rises, whereupon the valve 90 Will elose uml inueinurl. :is there will 'he 'no more nre sure upon the liquid remained in the clunnber 88. tlie fulvi- \\'ill open. permitting llie oil u'ililn tl'ie eluinilier SS te (lziin flown'wurll :nul inio tlie (Tank case.

The cmnructions slmwn in l mui il, ure zulu te lie uml for eireuluiinglj Systems wliere ille oil circulates under pres Sure 0r. in other words. in Sucli lulnleztinp;

svstem :is :1re uwl 0n Overland meter curss Buick motor cnrs mul munv others.

The principal object of placing' this merlizinisln upon uutmnobiles; is in order tu stop -tlie engine in euse the oil supply pipe. lie

rl combustion the Waterlias become reduced to such allow level as ,requires attention, and it may be used in the water circulating systems of automobiles. lt may also be used for ordi nary Water tanks either to indicate the level of the water or to cut in or cut out a pumping motor and it' will be understood that this mechanism as described is intended to be used with all types of lubrication systems and wit-li all types of motor such as stationu ary motors, portable motors or marine motors.

,Y Having described my inif'ention, 'what I claim is:

break the circuit; through said electrically actuated devices, and float operated means tor directing currentl tliroug'hsaid resistance Acoil when the liquid in the reservoirv has descended to a predetermined point,

2. The combination with a liquid reservoir and an electrical circuit. of a relatively slow acting normally inactive circuit break.- ing means disposed in said circuit. and means t'or rendering said circuit controlling means active after the liquid has descended to afpredeterniined point in the reservoir.

' 3. The combination with a reservoir containing liquid and an electrical circuit, of a relatively slow actingnorrnally deicientlyenergized electrical-circuit breaking device, and means for' ofiectively energizing the said circuit controlling" device after the liquid has descended to a predetermined point.

4. The combination with a liquid reservoii` and an electric circuit, of means controlling the passage oi current through said circui ,said means being normally inactive and includin a circuit breaker comprising a relatively Xerl Contact, a. movable contact, a. metallic member having a relativelv high coetl'icient the movable contact. a resistance coil surrounding the metallic' member whereby when current is passed through the coil, the coil Willbec'ome heated and cause an expansion of the metallic member and a separa* tion of the contacts, and float operated means for causing,- a current to pass through said resistance member when the float has sunk to a predetermined point totherelrv cause the breaking et' eaid'circuit. at a preof expansion connected to` but. breaking said circuit and establishu ing connection between the' ignition devices and the source of Venergy through second circuit, Wheiithe level of the liquid. has descended. beyond point, and means foi-.breaking said second circuit after a predetermined. lapse oit time.

6. Tlie'combination with the eleotrioigni-'l tion system of an internal combustion ein gine, said system including a source of eine ergy, and a spark forming deviceconnected by a tivo branch circuit with the source .of energy. aluid container and a member niora predetermined able therein by fluid pressure, of means zijn erated by said member for breaking "the-cia."my cuit through one of said branches and sncf.

cessively breaking the circuit through the other branch after a predetermined lapse of time. i A

7. The combination witlitlie electrical -nition system of an internal combustion en"- gine including a source of energy and a spark vforming device connected by atwc branch circuit with the source of energy, a.

l? Li.

fluid container. and a member ,mvable'ELY therein'by fluid pressure, of means'operated by said member for breaking thel circuit Vthrough one 4ol." said branches, and means for successively breaking the' circuit through the other branch, said last vnamedv means iiicluding normally engaged contacts connected in 'said circuit, and a thermostatie member acting 'to separate said contacts when the thermostatio memberis heated,

y l8. The combination with the electrical ignition system offen internal combustion engine including a, source of energy and a spark formingdevice connectedby a tivo branch circuit 'withf the source of energy, a fluid container, a member movable therein by fluid pressure, ofemeans operated by said member breaking the circuit through one of said branches upon a movement of the hienif ber in one direction to a `predeternfi'ined po sition, and means for automatically estab lishinf.,r a. circuit through` the other branch and then breaking said circuit after a predetermined lapse oftime. 1

9. The combination Withiin electrical ignition system of -an internal combustion en? ,eine including a source'of energy and a. spark forming` device connected by a two `branch vcircuit1 with the source of energy,

and a. fluid container, of a member in the container movable. in one direct-ion upon an increase of pressure in the container and in nie iis

hui' break? will tim mei :md ummm; mfg a nh? ih@ @thm syejon by n thereine m 0j' im by mrenkmg ifm cua; hlugh @ne is' branizhes upm mfG-Mmmm @mi mani im 1m de@ ease in p1 i.

Mmmm; posed im said L? sim@ han hs spar hm 1 SVEN v t pude,

.om miti come@ my 50 a affres; Q0.

'in tsa normal 1305111911, but f wmv?, when the, mex'lwer shlfs du@ to a carcasa Ui: pressure .within thel container means for then aua movement of said member due to a de.

crease in pressure, a drain pipe leadingr from the lower end of said chamber, and a valve controllingr the outlet through said drain pipo normally yieldingly held from its seat but closingr said outlet under pressure from within the chamber.

16. .The combination with a crank case,

vand a pump drawing.r oil from the crank rase` ot' a container haring a pipe connection to the pump and into which liquid is forced by the pump` a chamber disposed below the container and opening thereinto, a

drain pipe leading` from the lower end of Said chamber to the crank case, a 'alve controllinpT the outlet through the drain pipe and normally held in a raised position but shifted 'to a closed position by pressure within the chamber, a piston disjosecl within the container and held in a nornial position by pressure or' oil in the lower portion o the, container. means actuated by a descent of said piston due to a decrease in prat sure for breaking" the circuit through n ignition syslcm, and a Yalvecarried by the piston normally closing the outlet from lsaid conlainer into the chamber but opening upon a descent of the piston to permit the oll within the container to drain out therefrom.

1n testimony whereof l hereunto allix my signature in the presence of two witnesses ALBERT R. MEAD lV itnesses:

B. homie Roy V. ll. CowAN. 

